Best of the day: Kershaw first of the year to win 16

Updated 11:43 pm, Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 as he won his 16th game of the season and improved to 13-1 in his past 16 starts.

Clayton Kershaw struck out 10 as he won his 16th game of the season and improved to 13-1 in his past 16 starts.

Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Ike Davis (15) rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher Adam Wainwright during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. The Pirates won 3-1. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) less

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ike Davis (15) rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher Adam Wainwright during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh ... more

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

Best of the day: Kershaw first of the year to win 16

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Clayton Kershaw allowed only an unearned run in eight innings to become the first 16-game winner in the majors, and the visiting Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Kershaw, right, allowed six hits, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, seven by strikeout, to improve to 13-1 in his past 16 starts.

The left-handed ace struck out 10 and walked two.

-- Drew Smyly gave up two hits over seven innings in his second straight overpowering performance, and the Rays defeated the host Orioles 3-1. The left-hander struck out six and walked one in his fifth start for the Rays since coming from Detroit in a trade involving David Price.

-- Ike Davis hit a 430-foot, two-run homer to help the Pirates top the visiting Cardinals 3-1. A day earlier, Davis' pinch-hit, three-run homer was the decider.

NL wild card

Team

Rec

GB*

St. Louis

71-61

+1

Giants

70-62

-

Atlanta

69-64

1 1/2

Pittsburgh

69-64

1 1/2

Miami

65-67

5

AL wild card

Team

Rec

GB*

A's

78-54

+6

Seattle

72-60

-

Detroit

71-60

1/2

New York

69-62

2 1/2

Cleveland

67-64

4 1/2

* Behind second wild card

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